Tom Harnett and his son John

Tom Harnett and his son John

I'm looking for information about Tom Harnett and his son John. Here is what I know - Thomas Patrick Harnett was born at Moncton, New Brunswick on April 30th 1917, the son of David Harnett - I do not know his mother's name. In 1938 he joined the RCAF; then resigned accepting an RAF commission in November of that year. When war broke out in 1939 he moved over to the UK. He was stationed at RAF Penrhos near Pwllheli, Caernarvonshire, North Wales where he met my mother's sister Rhiannon Williams - our family always called her Rhian. They were married on October 23 1940 in Catterick, Yorkshire where he had been posted. He moved back to Canada in January 1941 to work as an instructor and I assume that Rhian went with him. Their son John was born in 1941 or 1942 - I cannot find his birth anywhere in the UK so I have to assume he was born in Canada.

They moved back in 1943 and Thomas Hartnett transferred back to the RCAF in Novmember 1943. Rhian died of a brain haemorrhage on November 30 1943 aged 23 in a hospital in London. My mother Gwen Wiliams and her father Tom Williams looked after young John in North Wales whilst Thomas Harnett continued his war service. I have some photographs of them.

Thomas Harnett was repatriated to Canada in November 1945 after the end of hostilities and he took John with him. Tragically young John was killed ca 1947 in an accident with a truck - I have no more details than that.

In the 1970s some people approached my mother to say that Tom Harnett was living in the Carribean and that he wanted to make contact. My mother would have none of it. I was not at home at the time - my brother told me about it.

I have seen on one website the Thomas Harnett died in tragic circumstances in December 1991. I know no more than that. My mother passed away in 1994 and she never talked about her sister and the little boy.

I would really appreciate if anyone could throw any more light on this tragic story.